Questions and Answers with R.L. Stine - Scholastic Media Room
Questions and Answers with R.L. Stine - Scholastic Media Room
Questions and Answers with R.L. Stine - Scholastic Media Room
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R.L. <strong>Stine</strong><br />
GOOSEBUMPS<br />
Q: 2012 marks the 20 th anniversary of Goosebumps! Why do you think Goosebumps has endured for<br />
twenty years?<br />
A: I am totally amazed by this. I feel so privileged to be able to scare so many generations of kids. I think the<br />
series continues because everyone likes a good scare.<br />
Q: What inspired you to call the series Goosebumps?<br />
A: I was stumped. I couldn’t think of a name for the series. Then I saw an ad for a TV station that was showing<br />
horror movies. The ad said, “It’s Goosebumps week on Channel 11.” There it was! I knew that had to be the title.<br />
Q: You returned to Goosebumps in 2008 after an eight-year break. What inspired you to go back to<br />
Goosebumps?<br />
A: My readers! Everywhere I went kids asked me: When are you going to write new Goosebumps books?<br />
I always listen to my readers. So now I'm having fun writing more books for <strong>Scholastic</strong>.<br />
Q: What is the most surprising thing that has happened to you in the last twenty years as a result of the<br />
popularity of Goosebumps?<br />
A: Everything that has happened to me has been amazing <strong>and</strong> surprising. I got the chance to do things that I<br />
dreamed of when I was a kid: I got to travel around the world; I had my own Goosebumps attraction at<br />
DisneyWorld; I’ve been on TV <strong>and</strong> had three TV series. I got to throw out the first pitch at Yankee Stadium<br />
(actually I let my son do that). I met some of my all-time heroes, including Ray Bradbury. But the biggest thrill<br />
was <strong>and</strong> continues to be meeting <strong>and</strong> hearing from so many kids who enjoy my books.<br />
Q: TIME.com listed your Twitter feed (@RL_<strong>Stine</strong>) as one of the “140 Best Twitter Feeds” out there. What<br />
do you enjoy most about Twitter/social media?<br />
A: Twitter is fun because it lets me stay in touch <strong>with</strong> all my original readers who grew up <strong>with</strong> my books. I love<br />
hearing from readers instantly on Twitter. And I love being able to tell them about the things I'm doing <strong>and</strong><br />
thinking about instantly.<br />
Q: What was your favorite TV episode?<br />
A: My favorite TV episode was The Haunted Mask. Surprisingly, it was the first Goosebumps show <strong>Scholastic</strong><br />
<strong>Media</strong> ever made. I think it's very scary, the mask is horrifying, <strong>and</strong> the actress playing Carly-Beth was just<br />
perfect.<br />
Q: Are you surprised the TV show has been on for so many years?<br />
A: I'm so happy the TV shows are still being shown today. I think the show continues to gather viewers because<br />
everyone likes to laugh <strong>and</strong> scream in horror—especially when they know they're safe in their own living room.<br />
Q: Goosebumps HorrorL<strong>and</strong> is set in a scary theme park. Do you have a favorite theme-park ride?<br />
A: Here’s the truth. I love theme parks but I’m a real chicken on rides. I’d rather invent scary rides for my books<br />
than go on them for real.<br />
Q: What is it about ventriloquist dummies?<br />
A: I’ve always thought dummies were scary. There’s something about those dead wooden eyes staring at you <strong>and</strong><br />
then suddenly coming to life. Creepy!<br />
Q: Slappy is a villain that the fans love to fear. What makes him so popular?<br />
A: Face it— all of us would like to be a little mean <strong>and</strong> a little rude sometimes. Slappy is mean <strong>and</strong> rude ALL the<br />
time. I think that’s why the fans love him.<br />
-continued-
Page 2<br />
Q: Do you own a ventriloquist’s dummy? If so, has it ever insulted, chased, or attacked you?<br />
A: I do own a ventriloquist’s dummy. It looks just like me! So far, it hasn’t ever chased me or attacked me. But<br />
you know, people have told me that dogs always sense ghosts <strong>and</strong> evil things before humans do. Well, my dog,<br />
Minnie, who is normally a very quiet, calm dog, is absolutely terrified of the dummy. She barks at it <strong>and</strong> shivers<br />
<strong>with</strong> fear whenever she sees him! So now I can’t help wondering if she knows something about the dummy that I<br />
don’t know.<br />
Q: Goosebumps books are often called a “safe scare.” What does that mean?<br />
A: They're scary but never too scary. Kids know they can read them <strong>and</strong> have creepy adventures, but they'll never<br />
go too far. They give you shivers but not nightmares.<br />
Q: What kind of feedback/comments do you get from kids about Goosebumps?<br />
A: I get tons of mail <strong>and</strong> email from readers every week. It's one of my favorite things about being an author.<br />
Sometimes kids send me story ideas. Believe it or not, their ideas are a lot scarier <strong>and</strong> more gruesome than my<br />
ideas!<br />
Q: What advice do you have for readers who hope to write their own books someday?<br />
A: My advice is to read as much as you can, <strong>and</strong> to try <strong>and</strong> write something, anything, every day. Think of it this<br />
way—when you write, you are a writer!<br />
Q: Why did you decide to write scary books?<br />
A: I always liked scary movies <strong>and</strong> books. When I was about eight or nine, I started reading scary horror comic<br />
books. They were called Vault of Horror <strong>and</strong> Tales from the Crypt. And my brother <strong>and</strong> I went to every scary<br />
movie. We didn’t get scared—we always LAUGHED!<br />
Q: What scares you? Do you have any phobias?<br />
A: I have one phobia—I can’t jump into water. I have to step into a swimming pool; I can’t jump or dive in. My<br />
nephews think it’s a riot that a scary guy like me is afraid to jump into a pool!<br />
Q: Do kids come to your house for Halloween? What do you give out?<br />
A: Kids come to my apartment in New York City because I have a skeleton <strong>and</strong> a cupful of eyeballs <strong>and</strong> a lot of<br />
creepy stuff. I always give out copies of my books along <strong>with</strong> the c<strong>and</strong>y bars.<br />
Q: Goosebumps has sold hundreds of millions of books worldwide. When did you first realize that<br />
Goosebumps was going to be such a huge success? How did you celebrate?<br />
A: I was in my hometown of Columbus, Ohio, driving to a bookstore for a book signing. I remember I was stuck in<br />
a huge traffic jam <strong>and</strong> I was really worried I would be late <strong>and</strong> was growing more <strong>and</strong> more annoyed at all the<br />
traffic. When we finally approached the bookstore, I realized that the traffic jam was caused by all the people who<br />
were coming to see ME! It was my first traffic jam! I celebrated by signing hundreds of books!<br />
Q: What’s the weirdest fan letter you’ve ever received?<br />
A: It’s the weirdest <strong>and</strong> also my favorite. Here goes:<br />
“Dear R.L. <strong>Stine</strong>. I have read 40 of your books <strong>and</strong> I think they are really boring.”<br />
Contact:<br />
Tracy van Straaten<br />
212/389-3782 or tvanstraaten@scholastic.com<br />
This interview has been provided by <strong>Scholastic</strong> Inc. © 2012 <strong>Scholastic</strong> Inc. All rights reserved.